Allergies... still here

Happy Veterans Day!

While dealing with all of the snakes and pairings, the feedings still have to happen, and I am still sniffing like crazy on account of the rats.

I am allergic, and it's not easy to deal with... Especially right now with the dry air and the particulate that comes with rodents and their bedding.

Aaaa-choo!

My eyes burn, my nose runs, and I keep sneezing or coughing. It's not fun sometimes, and today is one of those days.

I do use tongs/hemostats, but I have to say sometimes it doesn't help. Especially when you have to dig thru bedding to find the rodents anyway. Shaving dust is not something that is particularly great to breathe in.

Other things that can and will set me off (and maybe you too?) is the bedding dust for the snakes as well. Sani-chips do have some slight dust, and it does get airborne if you pour it or move it around.

So with sniffles and watery eyes, I feed and pull rats all night long. It takes me around three hours to complete the feeding process, and yes, I do feed live. It's not hard, it's just time consuming. Thursday nights are feeding nights, and they take a while.

But anything to keep the collection happy, healthy and fat!

With tongs and a wary hand, I open tubs, place rats, feed snakes, remove uneaten rats, monitor snakes for issues, and spot clean when needed. 

What I do for the things I love...

Have a great day, my friends!

Rodents revisited

I live in California, and there is not much space to have without living in the boonies, and therefore not much space for rodent breeding.

I purchase all of my rodents live from a breeder that lives near me.

It does get rather expensive, but this particular breeder is the cheapest producer in the area, and I get good quality stuff.

Have I considered starting to breed rodents? Sure I have...

Have I been successful at it? No way.

(Side note: If successful means producing rats, then yes, but not at the quantity I would need)

I am allergic, for one.

I am also lacking in time and space, and the area where I live in Southern California tends to get very hot during the summer, which does not bode well for living creatures in say a garage or location similar.

So until we move and are able to create a rodent space/building, I am going to have to suck it up and deal with it how I can.

It would be lovely if we lived in an area where a couple acres doesn't cost a mere few million, and where I could set up a property with extra facilities here and there, but at the moment, this is not the case.

So, I buy.

Live.

Frozen is possible, and honestly, I have considered it many times, but as it stands, I do not have the time to attempt to change everyone over, nor do I have the time to sit there and defrost and wiggle around zombie rats for each snake.

Time is precious here at Heather's Herps.

So with that, I will go finish feeding the critters and do some cleaning.

I have updated the available page with a TON of Proven Breeder stuff (Male and Female) as well as some of the babies that have shed out. Go and take a look at what I have in store!

Have a fantastic day, my friends!

Allergies

Well, as it stands as a Reptile Breeder, one usually does not have allergies to the animals themselves.

Scales are easy.

It is the food that is the issue.

I am allergic to rodents. All rodents.

Actually, I'm allergic to many other things as well, but rodents will suffice for this blog.

How then, do you ask, do I feed my snakes?

Carefully.

I do tend to get itchy and get the sniffles when I am touching the rats. More so even when I touch them then touch my face.

I can handle them in short bursts, but it does take a toll over a while of feeding. It takes me a few hours to feed, and I do touch them with my bare hands.

I probably shouldn't.

What tends to happen is that I use my hands or tongs to put them in, and they scratch me.

When they scratch me, I puff up in the area where the scratch is. And then, I sniffle. And sneeze.

Some people have a much more severe reaction to the rodents than I do, so here are a few tips on how to feed your snakes with live rodents that you are allergic to.

1) Use protection: Gloves, tongs, anything that will keep you from needing to get into contact. Even if you need to, use a mask for breathing.

2) Use help. Don't do it alone if you don't have to.

3) Frozen thawed food items do not bite, scratch or otherwise move around to let forth hair or dander to make you react. They still may make you react, but it will not be as bad.

4) Take drugs if you need to. Prepare yourself for the encounter.

5) Take it easy. When you get a reaction, just step back, take whatever time you need before anything, and then jump back in when you are ready.

You more than likely already know all of this, but hey, I just want to remind. I had this issue last night, so I wanted to touch on it now.

My arm is still itchy.

Have a fantastic, non-itchy day, my friends.